Patient top contender Joseph Benavidez unsure if WEC title shot is next

http://mmajunkie.comThis past weekend’s WEC 47 event appeared it’d perfectly set up the next bantamweight title fight when champ Brian Bowles met Dominick Cruz in the headliner and top contenders Miguel Torres and Joseph Benavidez clashed in the co-headliner.

And though Cruz and Benavidez pulled off a pair of upsets, Benavidez today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he’s unsure if he’ll get the next title shot with the newly crowned champ.

But he won’t lose sleep either way. Patience truly is a virtue, Benavidez said.

“I haven’t heard much,” said Benavidez, who earned a second-round submission victory over Torres at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. “I heard a few things about maybe an immediate rematch (for Bowles). … I don’t know who else there would be. I think most people just expected it (Cruz vs. Benavidez) to happen since we were co-main-events.”

A few factors are working against Benavidez. First, WEC officials very well could book Cruz vs. Bowles II. WEC General Reed Harris and matchmaker Sean Shelby generally shy away from immediate title rematches. However, Bowles said his broken hand resulted from the first punch he threw in the fight, and it ultimately left him unable to continue after the second round. If WEC officials were ever to bend their own rules, the early-fight injury could warrant it.

Secondly, Benavidez has already fought Cruz once before – and he lost. At WEC 42, Benavidez dropped a unanimous decision to the now-champ. It was an entertaining bout that earned each competitor a “Fight of the Night” bonus, but Cruz was the clear winner with winning scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

WEC officials may question the marketability of the fight because of the decisive decision in the first meeting. Benavidez, though, is anxious to avenge the defeat – the only one of his four-year career – but said he’s not going to be too bent of out of shape if the WEC looks elsewhere.

“I definitely think I’m the No. 1 contender,” Benavidez said. “I’m here to fight, and of course, I want a title shot and avenage a loss. But patience is one of the best traits I have.

“If I don’t get a title shot, it’s for a reason. If I do, it’s for a reason. By the end of my career, I truly believe I’ll be a champion. …. If it it doesn’t happen (right away), I wouldn’t be too disappointed, but I’d definitely like the chance.”

Despite that Cruz loss, Benavidez can certainly make a strong case for title consideration. The California-based Team Alpha Male fighter is 4-1 in the WEC’s bantamweight division, and this past weekend, he became the first fighter ever to submit Torres in a professional fight. He’s marketable and a known commodity (all five of his WEC bouts have been televised), and he’s got a fighting style that usually provides exciting performances.

However, Benavidez is torn as to what to do next if another fighter gets the first shot at Cruz’s title. Benavidez arguably was the No. 1 contender once before – following a decision victory over Jeff Curran at WEC 40. But with then-champ Torres already scheduled to fight Bowles, Benavidez accepted the fight with Cruz.

The decision, of course, cost him his perfect record and a likely title shot.

So would he take another fight to bide time if Cruz is booked against someone else?

“That’s a hard one because I’ve done that before,” he said. “It’s just a hard situation. I guess it depends on what’s going in my life. … I don’t know. I did that after Curran, and I kind of blew it. I wouldn’t want the same thing to happen again if I took another fight.

“I feel like I can beat anyone, but again, it’s a tough division with a lot of great guys, and there are no easy fights. I’d have to think about it. It’d be a risk.”

Aside from what he called a sore “butt and back” – thanks to stinging heel kicks Torres threw while on his back – Benavidez said he’s in relatively good physical shape. However, after such an intense training camp preparing for such a tough opponent, he’s ready for a relaxing trip – one “more exotic” than his usual New Mexico vacation destination.

Regardless of when he does return, Benavidez said he’ll be all the more motivated thanks to an outpouring of support after the Torres victory.

“Just knowing there are people out there cheering for me motivated me,” he said. “It inspires me and keeps me going.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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